North Dakota
Kansas State football had no business beating North Dakota. What’s wrong with the team?
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson speaks on win vs North Dakota
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson speaks after defeating North Dakota 38-35. Johnson finished with a career-high 318 passing yards in the win.
Boos rained down on Kansas State football as it ran into the locker room for halftime. Losing to their FCS opponent at the break, the Wildcats needed to wake up.
They did, and then they didn’t. A 10-point fourth-quarter lead disappeared before trailing by four in the final minutes. Unlike against Iowa State the week before, the Wildcats got a needed stop before Avery Johnson led them down the field for the go-ahead touchdown with 42 seconds left, avoiding disaster and beating North Dakota, 38-35.
Kansas State had no business winning the game, and something looks a little off in Manhattan.
Whether it was a hangover after an unorthodox beginning to the season in Ireland or the Wildcats overlooking a smaller opponent, they don’t look like the team that was picked to challenge for the Big 12 title, let alone a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Here are a few things we noticed after rewatching the game.
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Chris Klieman was right to call out Kansas State’s defensive discipline
Klieman used two “awfuls” to describe the eye discipline of the defense. It was a problem for most of the night, which is surprising considering the level of play the Wildcats typically receive from what’s supposed to be one of the better linebacker groups in the Big 12.
North Dakota used plenty of motion to confuse the defense’s eyes, and it worked, especially in the first half and the fourth quarter. For whatever reason, the Fighting Hawks went away from it a little bit in the third quarter, leading to negative-10 yards of offense in the frame.
Other lapses in discipline also made appearances, particularly when the Wildcats ran into the kicker in the second quarter, resulting in a first down for UND. On the same drive, UND faced a second-and-21 when Justice Clemons got flagged for a face mask, extending the drive further, which ultimately resulted in a touchdown.
Kansas State gave up too many chunk plays in and-long situations
UND was second-for-6 when facing a third down with nine yards or more to go. That included a 23-yard pass on a third-and-22 and a 13-yard rush on third-and-10 on the same drive to end the first half. The drive resulted in a touchdown.
Other and-long situations popped up after the Wildcats had success in earlier downs. When UND converted, those extended drives resulted in touchdowns.
- Second-and-13 in the 2nd quarter — 25-yard rush (drive resulted in touchdown)
- Fourth-and-6 in the 4th quarter — Eight-yard pass (drive resulted in touchdown)
- Third-and-8 in the 4th quarter — 10-yard pass (drive resulted in touchdown)
Avery Johnson was lucky to finish game without interception
Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good. Avery Johnson’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Tibbs appeared to be intercepted in the endzone before it somehow landed in his receiver’s hands. There were a few plays where a Johnson pass sailed or was put in danger, making you wonder how he left the game without throwing a pick.
Johnson tends to receive a lot more criticism than he deserves. Without his late-game heroics, this would be an entirely different conversation. However, there were a few close calls that will require some cleanup.
Kansas State offensive line, rushing concerns remain
Against an FCS opponent, this was when you would’ve wanted to see the offensive line assert itself. After last week’s loss to Iowa State, when the Wildcats struggled to run the ball, this was supposed to be somewhat of a tune-up game.
Instead, a consistent ground game was still lacking. Of K-State’s 143 rushing yards, 91 of them came on nine carries it had of 10 yards or more. That means the Wildcats averaged 2.6 yards on their 20 other carries.
There’s no question that the Wildcats miss Dylan Edwards, who was out with an ankle injury and may miss this week’s game against Army. The Wildcats still need to figure this out with the running backs they have.
Kansas State could have put the game away late in the third quarter, but got in its own way
Up 10 with the ball and 1:33 left in the third quarter, the Wildcats had a chance to put a nail in the coffin.
Johnson had a throw on the run to a wide-open Garrett Oakley that was dropped at the UND 16. In the following play, Johnson attempted to pull the ball on a fake to Joe Jackson, but it was fumbled, kicked backward, and turned into a 17-yard loss to end the quarter. Those two plays turned into a 37-yard difference in field position and at least three points coming off the board.
UND responded with a 71-yard touchdown drive, bringing the game within three with just over 10 minutes left, beginning the scare.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@gannett.com
The Bison are in the game. For real, this time.
When EA Sports brought back its College Football title in 2024 after a decade-plus hiatus, FCS teams were not included. That’s still the case as the game moves into the third year of its revival, but, of course, North Dakota State has moved up to the FBS level, as members of the Mountain West.
And one of the perks of that move is inclusion in the popular sports simulation. Participating players get $1,500 plus a free copy of this year’s game, College Football 27.
Not bad, huh?
I can only imagine how cool it is for a kid like Abraham Myers, a tight end from Sioux Falls Washington High School, to see himself as a playable character on a millions-selling PlayStation game, but it’s cool for fans, too.
If you’re a Bison fan, it’s all right there. The Fargodome (sorta, EA didn’t bother to include the name, calling it ‘North Dakota State Stadium’), Tim Polasek, the Bison mascot — OK, that’s really about all the detail they went into, and Polasek’s likeness leaves a bit to be desired. Then again, they still haven’t made much effort to make Kalen DeBeoer look like Kalen DeBoer, so whatever, I guess.
In the past you could still play as NDSU, or SDSU, or USD, or Augustana, or Roosevelt High School, or St. Mother Theresa’s Middle School for the Deaf, or any other team, real or imagined, because of the game’s “Create a team” engine, and that’s still there on this year’s game. There are already a few Jackrabbit teams up on the servers that you can download if you’re an SDSU fan and want to play as the Jacks.
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But Bison fans (and Sac State fans, and Missouri State fans, etc., etc.) don’t have to do that. Their team is in the game, with their actual stadium and their actual coach and their actual players, and when I fired up the game on Thursday just an hour after it officially launched, I’ll admit it, the first thing I did was start a game in Fargo, pitting New Mexico against the Bison in the Fargodome for a Mountain West clash that sent former SDSU assistant Jason Eck up against his old Dakota Marker nemesis.
The game started up and there they were: Nathan Hayes under center for the Bison, with DJ Scott carrying the ball, Jackson Williams running free over the middle and Myers teaming with Reis Kessel at tight end to create problems in the red zone.
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I went right down the field and scored on the opening drive, with Hayes finding Williams on a drag route for the touchdown.
Despite the best efforts of New Mexico’s star linebacker and former Brookings Bobcat Jaxton Eck (Jason’s son), I had no trouble dispatching the Lobos 31-10.
Later I played around with some other fun matchups.
I brought Nebraska into the Dome, and while we all know the Huskers stink now, for someone like me who’s old enough to remember their Glory Days, it was fun to see the iconic Nebraska uniforms on the Fargo turf, and wonder if someday that could actually happen now that NDSU is in the FBS.
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Later I played a game at the Big House in Ann Arbor, sending the Bison up against the Wolverines. Michigan got the ball first and after a holding penalty pinned them deep in their own territory, Keenan Wilson’s strip-sack of Bryce Underwood gave the Bison first and goal, and with the Miaze and Blue crowd of over 100,000 roaring, I quickly turned it into a short touchdown pass from Hayes to Myers.
Ultimately I couldn’t keep that up against the Wolverines, falling 31-21.
I played around with some other teams, mostly the ones with familiar faces. Jimmy Rogers and Iowa State, Matt Entz at Fresno State, Missouri State, Kennesaw State, Sac State, Delaware and other former FCS powers.
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I also played a few series of the Tennessee vs. Alabama rivalry game to get an early glimpse of what kind of teams South Dakota’s two favorite SEC sons (DeBoer and Josh Heupel) might have in store for 2026.
Much has been made of trying to predict how successful the Bison will be in year one at the FBS level. Some have already anointed them a favorite to grab a G6 playoff spot. Others think they’ll at least win the Mountain West, while few seem to think they’ll finish much lower than third or fourth.
What does EA think?
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The Bison are given an overall team rating of 75 (99 is the highest possible), which is higher than many if not most G6 teams. James Madison, for one, gets a 77.
The other Mountain West teams earned the following ratings:
Air Force – 74
Hawaii – 76
Nevada – 73
New Mexico – 76
Northern Illinois – 70
San Jose State – 72
UNLV – 78
UTEP – 72
Wyoming – 73
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As for the NDSU players, here are their top rated personnel:
Griffin Empey (LG): 87
DJ Scott (RB): 83
Keenan Wilson (DT): 80
Darius Glance (SS): 79
Myles Mitchell (RB): 78
Josh Magin (RT): 78
Donovan Woolen (LB): 78
Keith Williams (LB): 78
Logan Larson (DT): 77
Jackson Williams (WR): 76
Matthew Stenbroten (DE): 76
Zach Vanderpool (DT): 76
Alijah Wayne (DT): 76
Jaylin Crumby (FS): 75
Kelton McCaslin (DE): 75
Reis Kessel (TE): 75
Nathan Hayes (QB): 74
Nate Tastad (RG): 74
Taylen Eady (FS): 73
Ryan Babatz (LT): 73
Alex Jenkins (LT): 73
DJ Volts (CB): 72
Mekhi Collins (WR): 71
Jack Liwienski (OG): 71
EJ Davis (CB): 71
Will Steil (FS): 70
Drew Klein (K): 70
Makes you wonder how players like Chase Mason and Charles Pierre would measure up. Maybe someday the Jacks, Coyotes and Fighting Hawks will be in the game and we’ll find out.
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Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.
BISMARCK — A West Fargo attorney has been appointed to the North Dakota Ethics Commission.
According to a release, Lisa Edison-Smith was appointed to the commission Tuesday, July 7, to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner Ronald Goodman, who will retire from the board.
Edison-Smith works for Vogel Law Firm, from which she plans to retire at the end of the year, the release said. She specializes in employment and labor law and is also the editor of the North Dakota Employment Law Letter, a monthly publication providing guidance to employers.
Edison-Smith graduated from North Dakota State University and Hamline University School of Law. She was a clerk for the Minnesota Supreme Court and worked in finance and accounting roles at GTE Corp., the release said.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my legal experience and problem-solving skills to the important work of the Commission,” Edison-Smith said via release. “Together, I believe we can improve public trust and deepen the Commission’s commitment to accountability and transparency in North Dakota.”
Commissioners are appointed by consensus of the governor and majority and minority leader of the North Dakota Senate.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
North Dakota
Schulz to transition from ND Parks and Recreation to ND Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Gov. Kelly Armstrong today announced that North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department Director Cody Schulz is leaving the agency next month to assume the role of chief financial officer in the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, effective Aug. 17.
Schulz has led Parks and Recreation since being appointed director by then-Gov. Doug Burgum in October 2021. Armstrong reappointed Schulz to the position upon taking office in December 2024. Schulz previously served 13 years in the state Department of Emergency Services (DES), including as business manager and finance officer for seven years and as the state’s director of Homeland Security from 2018 to 2021. Prior to joining DES, he spent nearly 13 years in the private sector as a business owner, account specialist and government and public affairs analyst.
“Parks and Recreation has thrived under Cody’s leadership, opening a new state park at Pembina Gorge, expanding and improving existing parks, making major investments in infrastructure and enhancing visitor experiences,” Armstrong said. “While we will miss his leadership of the agency, we’re excited that he has decided to continue serving the citizens of North Dakota at DOCR, where his experience in finance and accounting will serve the department well.”
“This was an incredibly difficult decision, one driven primarily by the desire to travel less and spend more time with family, especially my aging parents. At the same time, my new role at DOCR allows me to work in finance and public safety – two passions that have shaped much of my career,” Schulz said. “I am filled with gratitude for the team at Parks and Recreation, and I leave with complete confidence in this organization. This is an exceptionally talented team filled with capable, dedicated people who care deeply about one another, our mission, and the citizens we serve.”
A native of New Salem, N.D., Schulz earned an associate’s degree from Bismarck State College, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Dickinson State University and an MBA from the University of North Dakota. He also served on the Morton County Commission from 2012 to 2020, including as chairman in 2016, 2017 and 2020, and as a member of the Morton County Park Board for eight years.
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